Bluegrass and country music icon Ricky Skaggs is back with a powerful message of prayer.
It has been more than ten years since Country Music Hall of Fame member Ricky Skaggs released new music. With a career spanning four decades, the Kentucky native has an expansive catalog of more than 30 studio albums.
His most recent solo album, Mosaic, was released in 2010. While compiling that record, there was one song that Ricky and his team held back, waiting for the right moment.
In a new conversation with Country Rebel, Ricky Skaggs talks about the new single, why he waited, his experiences on the road, and his message for younger artists.
Ricky Skaggs Releases Poignant Song Of Faith, “Say A Prayer”
Even though “Say A Prayer” was recorded many years ago, Ricky says he was waiting for “a real confirmation and a nudge from the Lord” for when to release it. Now, he says, could not be a more perfect time.
He describes the song as an anthem to stop and remind people that everyone, in all nations, needs prayer. There is one thing that Ricky wishes to make very clear: this is not a political song. He says:
“This is not a political statement. This is a heavenly statement, a mandate, and an invitation.”
Additionally, Ricky says he is thankful that the Lord gave him “the patience to wait” for the opportune time when the song would be most effective. He adds:
“We need to pray for our families. We need to pray for our leaders. We need to pray for all that’s going on in the world. I’m hoping that, when people hear it, it’ll be something that gets in their minds so much that they can’t forget it.”
Written by Gordon Kennedy and Ben Cooper, the song combines country, bluegrass, and rock influences, with the sounds of sitar, fiddle, mandolin, and banjo. His daughter, Molly Skaggs, sings harmonies on the chorus.
Listen to “Say A Prayer,” the new single by Ricky Skaggs, below!
Time On The Road: Then And Now
Ricky Skaggs has been crossing the lines of bluegrass, gospel, and country music since the 80s. He has collaborated with countless artists, from Dolly Parton to Bruce Hornsby.
In addition to their own headlining shows, Ricky Skaggs and his band, the Kentucky Thunder, have joined Dierks Bentley for select shows on his Off The Map tour. Dierks considers Ricky one of his strongest music influences, and together, they treat the crowd to “Highway 40 Blues” each night.
The main difference in touring now versus in decades past, Ricky jokes, is being able to afford a bus payment. He notes that one pleasant surprise seen while on this tour is the lines between country fans, gospel fans, and bluegrass fans becoming more blurred.
This opens up different types of music and important messages to a broader audience. Additionally, it gives the artist more creative freedom when not confined by the walls of a specific genre.
Ricky Skaggs’ Message For The Younger Generation
Ricky Skaggs was famously discovered while playing in a “little beer joint” in West Virginia with Keith Whitley. They had gone to see Ralph Stanley, and when the show was delayed due to bus trouble, the two young musicians jumped at the opportunity to take the stage.
Ricky credits Ralph Stanley as well as Bill Monroe for serving as mentors in the early years of his career. He remained close with them until their respective passings. Now a seasoned veteran, Ricky hopes to do the same for the next generation of country and bluegrass artists.
His message for them is simple: be an original and don’t be a copy. He encourages artists to find their own voice and expresses his appreciation for never having lost his eastern Kentucky sound.
“I think it’s important to use the sound, and use the tone, and use the inflections that [God] put in your heart when He created you.”
